Infrastructure deficit and opportunities in Africa

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Mafusire ◽  
Zuzana Brixiova ◽  
John Anyanwu ◽  
Qingwei Meng
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Private Investment ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Private Sector Investment ◽  
Investment Opportunities ◽  
Financing Infrastructure

Private sector investment opportunities in Africa’s infrastructure are huge. Regulatory reforms across African countries are identified as critical to the realization of the expected investment flows in the infrastructure sector. However, planners and policy makers need to note that there are infrastructure deficiencies in all subsectors with low income countries (LICs) in Africa facing the greatest challenge. Inefficiencies in implementing infrastructure projects account for USD 17 billion annually and improving the capacity of African countries will help minimize these costs. In this regard, the donor community must play a greater role in African LICs while innovative financing mechanisms must be the focus in the relatively richer countries of the continent. Traditional sources of financing infrastructure development remain important but private investment is critical in closing the current gaps. Countries need to devise mechanisms to exploit opportunities and avoid pitfalls in investing in infrastructure.

scholarly journals Private Sector Investment in Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa Post-COVID-19: The Role of Law

2021 ◽  
pp. 1087724X2110595
Author(s):  
Augustine Edobor Arimoro
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Private Sector Investment ◽  
Domestic Capital ◽  
Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the lowest income region of the world with a considerable number of low-income countries. The region is challenged by a massive infrastructure deficit. In recent years, the governments of the countries in the region have expressed the desire to bridge the huge gap in infrastructure assets through a partnership with the private sector using the public-private partnership model. However, the advent of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which has resulted in unplanned public sector expenditure poses a new kind of hurdle to climb for states in the region. As such, there is a need for governments in SSA to create and sustain efficient opportunities for private sector investment in infrastructure procurement and maintenance. This article adopted the doctrinal legal research method as well as review of literature in the examination of the role of law in creating a healthy and sustainable business environment for private sector participation in infrastructure financing and operation in a post-COVID-19 era in the SSA region. The article recommends among others, the enactment of legislation to create an enabling environment for raising domestic capital for the purposes of private sector–led public infrastructure procurement as well as the implementation of strategies suited for developing economies to attain successful outcomes in private sector backed infrastructure procurement.

scholarly journals Enigma of Public Assistance to Private Investment through Infrastructure: Evidence from Pakistan

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Ayza Shoukat ◽  
Khalil Ahmad ◽  
Muhammad Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Private Investment ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Private Sector Investment ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Physical Infrastructure ◽  
Short Run

Purpose: Public physical infrastructure development has fairly large impacts on private sector investment decisions and through this; it can affect economic performance (growth). The current study intends to explore the course in which public infrastructure affects private sector investment in Pakistan and whether there exist long run equilibrium between them or not. Time series annual data from 1972 to 2015 has been employed.  Instead of using a single infrastructure indicator, the study has constructed a multidimensional composite index through principal component analysis (PCA). Real gross fixed capital formation is used as the proxy of private sector investment. The long run relationship is determined by Johansen's co-integration technique after checking for the order of integration. The empirical evidence shows that physical infrastructure availability is positively and significantly affecting private sector investment decisions. In addition, credit to private sector, per capita GDP, work force and inflation rate are positively and significantly affecting private investment. Further, private investment is sensitive to public physical infrastructure availability not only in long run but also in short run. A statistically significant and negative ECT (-1) term confirms the long run relationship and convergence towards equilibrium in case of Pakistan.  Findings of the study show that public physical infrastructure services endorse the private investment both in the long run and the short run

Monetary Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Monetary Policy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Regimes ◽  
Export Prices ◽  
Policy Work ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Policy Guidance

Having broadly stabilized inflation over the past two decades, many policymakers in sub-Saharan Africa are now asking more of their monetary policy frameworks. They are looking to avoid policy misalignments and respond appropriately to both domestic and external shocks, including swings in fiscal policy and spikes in food and export prices. In many cases they are finding current regimes—often characterized as ‘money targeting’—lacking, with opaque and sometimes inconsistent objectives, inadequate transmission of policy to the economy, and difficulties in responding to supply shocks. At the same time, little existing research on monetary policy is targeted to low-income countries. What do we know about the empirics of monetary transmission in low-income countries? (How) Does monetary policy work in countries characterized by a huge share of food in consumption, underdeveloped financial markets, and opaque policy regimes? (How) Can we use methods largely derived in advanced countries to answer these questions? And (how) can we use the results to guide policymakers? This book draws on years of research and practice at the IMF and in central banks from the region to shed empirical and theoretical light on these questions and to provide practical tools and policy guidance. A key feature of the book is the application of dynamic general equilibrium models, suitably adapted to reflect key features of low-income countries, for the analysis of monetary policy in sub-Saharan African countries.

scholarly journals Zambian farm blocks: A vehicle for increased private sector investments

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 817-825
Author(s):  
Susanna L. Middelberg ◽  
Pieter van der Zwan ◽  
Cobus Oberholster
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Land Development ◽  
Policy Uncertainty ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Private Sector Investment

AbstractThe Zambian government has introduced the farm block development programme (FBDP) to facilitate agricultural land and rural development and encourage private sector investment. This study assessed whether the FBDP achieves these goals. Key obstacles and possible opportunities were also identified and, where appropriate, specific corrective actions were recommended. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted in Lusaka with various stakeholders of the FBDP. The FBDP is designed to facilitate agricultural land development and encourage private sector investment. However, the programme falls far short in terms of implementation, amidst policy uncertainty and lack of support. This is evident by the insecurity of land tenure which negatively affects small- and medium-scale producers’ access to financing, lack of infrastructure development of these farm blocks, and constraints in the agricultural sector such as low labour productivity and poor access to service expertise. It is recommended that innovative policy interventions should be created to support agricultural development. This can be achieved by following a multistakeholder approach through involving private, public and non-profit sectors such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and donors.

scholarly journals The acceptance of covid-19 vaccines in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from 6 national phone surveys

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelton Kanyanda ◽  
Yannick Markhof ◽  
Philip Wollburg ◽  
Alberto Zezza
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Representative Sampling ◽  
Sub Saharan

Introduction Recent debates surrounding the lagging covid-19 vaccination campaigns in low-income countries center around vaccine supply and financing. Yet, relatively little is known about attitudes towards covid-19 vaccines in these countries and in Africa in particular. In this paper, we provide cross-country comparable estimates of the willingness to accept a covid-19 vaccine in six Sub-Saharan African countries. Methods We use data from six national high-frequency phone surveys from countries representing 38% of the Sub-Saharan African population (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda). Samples are drawn from large, nationally representative sampling frames providing a rich set of demographic and socio-economic characteristics by which we disaggregate our analysis. Using a set of re-calibrated survey weights, our analysis adjusts for the selection biases common in remote surveys. Results Acceptance rates in the six Sub-Saharan African countries studied are generally high, with at least four in five people willing to be vaccinated in all but one country. Vaccine acceptance ranges from nearly universal in Ethiopia (97.9%, 97.2% to 98.6%) to below what would likely be required for herd immunity in Mali (64.5%, 61.3% to 67.8%). We find little evidence for systematic differences in vaccine hesitancy by sex or age but some clusters of hesitancy in urban areas, among the better educated, and in richer households. Safety concerns about the vaccine in general and its side effects emerge as the primary reservations toward a covid-19 vaccine across countries. Conclusions Our findings suggest that limited supply, not inadequate demand, likely presents the key bottleneck to reaching high covid-19 vaccine coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa. To turn intent into effective demand, targeted communication campaigns bolstering confidence in the safety of approved vaccines and reducing concerns about side effects will be crucial to safeguard the swift progression of vaccine rollout in one of the world's poorest regions.

scholarly journals Green Banking Trends: Customer Knowledge and Awareness in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-60
Author(s):  
V Chitra ◽  
R Gokilavani
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
Private Investment ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Private Sector Investment ◽  
Consumer Markets

Global warming is increasing; therefore, Change is the law of nature. The changes like the environmental and climatic conditions, are one of the most complicated issues faced by the growing society. The survival of the fittest contributes to the idea of adaptation to the changes in society. Today’s business is all about being green, and companies use this as a key strategy to expand its market and impact society. Even the top companies like Amazon to apple are moving in a great way towards green. The economic development lies in the palms of the banks being the financial organizations.Green banking means a financial institution, typically public or quasi-public, that uses innovative financing techniques and market development tools in partnership with the private sector to accelerate deployment of clean energy technologies. Green banks use public funds to leverage private investment in clean energy technologies that, despite being commercially viable, have struggled to establish a widespread presence in consumer markets. Green banks seek to reduce energy costs for ratepayers, stimulate private sector investment and economic activity, and expedite the transition to a low-carbon economy. Adoption of green banking practices will not only be useful for the environment but also benefit in greater operational efficiencies, minimum errors and frauds, and cost reductions in banking activities. The present paper aims to highlightIndian initiatives and adoption by various banks towards green banking in India. Further, an attempt has been made to highlight the major benefits, confronting challenges of Green Banking.

Managing and Motivating

2011 ◽  
pp. 79-95
Author(s):  
Eilish Mc Auliffe ◽  
Ogenna Manafa ◽  
Cameron Bowie ◽  
Lucy Makoae ◽  
Fresier Maseko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Bilateral Agreements ◽  
Working Environments ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Source Countries

It is now more than a decade since the acknowledgement of the health human resources crisis that exists in many low-income countries. During that decade much attention has focused on addressing the “pull” factors (e.g. developing voluntary international recruitment guidelines and bilateral agreements between recruiting and source countries) and on scaling up the supply of health professionals. Drawing on research conducted in two sub-Saharan African countries, we argue that a critical element in the human resources crisis is the poor working environments in these countries that not only continue to act as a strong “push” factor, but also impact on the motivation and performance of those who remain in their home countries. Unless attention is focused on improving work environments, the human resources crisis will continue in a vicious cycle leading to further decline in the health systems of low-income countries.

P1586Research network in Africa (RNA): antihypertensive drugs strategies in 12 African countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Kane ◽  
P Cavagna ◽  
I B Diop ◽  
B Gaye ◽  
J B Mipinda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Antihypertensive Drugs ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background High Blood Pressure is the worldwide leading global burden of disease risk factor. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of adults with raised blood pressure has alarmingly increased from 0.59 to 1.13 billion between 1975 and 2015. Blood pressure-lowering medicines are cornerstone of cardiovascular risk reduction. Data on management of anti-hypertensive drugs in sub-Saharan Africa are squarce. Purpose Our study aims to describe antihypertensive drugs strategies in Africa. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in urban clinics during outpatient consultation specialized in hypertension cardiology departments of 29 medical centers from 17 cities across 12 African countries (Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mozambic, Niger, Senegal, Togo). Data were collected on demographics, treatment and standardized BP measures were made among the hypertensive patients attending the clinics. Country income was retrieved from the World Bank database. All analyses were performed through scripts developed in the R software (3.4.1 (2017–06–30)). Results A total of 2198 hypertensive patients (58.4±11.8 years; 39.9% male) were included. Among whom 2123 (96.6%) had at least one antihypertensive drug. Overall, 30.8% (n=653) received monotherapy and calcium-channel blockers (49.6%) were the most common monotherapy prescribed follow by diuretics (18.7%). Two-drug strategies were prescribed for 927 patients (43.6%). Diuretics and Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was the combination most frequently prescribed (33.7%). Combination of three drugs or more was used in 25.6% (n=543) of patients. The proportion of drugs strategies differed significantly according to countries (p<0.001), monotherapy ranged from 12.7% in Niger to 47.1% in Democratic Republic of the Congo (figure). Furthermore we observed a significantly difference of strategies between low and middle income countries (55.3% and 44.7% of monotherapy respectively) (p<0.001). According to hypertension grades 1, 2 and 3, the proportion of three-drugs or more combination was 25%, 28% and 34% in middle-income and lower in low-income countries (18%, 19% and 25%). Furthermore, Grade 3 hypertension in low income countries was still treated with monotherapy (36%) instead of 19% in middle income countries (p<0.01). Antihypertensive strategies by country Conclusion Our study described antihypertensive drugs use across 12 sub-Saharan countries, and identified disparities specific to the income context. Inequity in access to drugs combination is a serious barrier to tackle the burden of hypertension in Africa.

Introduction: Resilience and sustainability

1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Perrings
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Poverty Traps ◽  
Economic Systems ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Ecological Concept ◽  
Ecological Economic ◽  
Lock In

One of the most interesting and potentially useful outcomes of recent collaboration between natural and social scientists concerned with the sustainability of jointly determined ecological-economic systems is the application of the ecological concept of resilience. In its broadest sense, resilience is a measure of the ability of a system to withstand stresses and shocks – its ability to persist in an uncertain world. For many policy-makers, however, the concern that desirable states or processes may not be ‘sustainable’ is balanced by the concern that individuals and societies may get ‘locked-in’ to undesirable states or processes. Many low-income countries, for example, are thought to have been caught in poverty traps, and poverty traps have since been seen as a major cause of environmental degradation (Dasgupta, 1993). Other examples of ‘lock-in’ include our dependence on hydrocarbon-based technologies, or the institutional and cultural rigidities that stand in the way of change (Hanna, Folke, and Mäler, 1996). Such states or processes are too persistent.

scholarly journals Access to Controlled Medicines in Low-Income Countries: Listening to Stakeholders in the Field

2020 ◽  
pp. 002073142090674
Author(s):  
Agnes Vitry ◽  
Gilles Forte ◽  
Jason White
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Psychotropic Medicines ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
International Conventions

Little is known on current practices and challenges associated with the legal trade of medicines controlled under international conventions in low-income countries. This qualitative survey involved semi-structured interviews of stakeholders engaged in the trade of controlled medicines at a global level or at a country level in 3 African countries (Uganda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo). Nine interviews were conducted, including 3 international wholesalers, 2 relief organizations, 2 procurement officers, and 2 regulatory officers. Additionally, 4 other participants provided written information. All participants consistently reported that the current process of procuring controlled medicines in compliance with international conventions was long and complex given the number of administrative steps required for obtaining export and import authorizations, which are mandatory for both narcotic and psychotropic medicines. It may be difficult or impossible to obtain import authorizations from some health authorities in low-income countries because of long delays, mistakes in forms, absence or shortage of staff, or when annual national estimates are exceeded. The complexities of the trade of controlled medicines directly contribute to the lack of access to essential controlled medicines, both narcotics and psychotropics, in low-income countries.

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